Top Ten Trends in Biblical Counseling from 2000-2009

Part 1: Trends 10-6

Do you remember where you were when “Y2K” did not hit? That was the beginning of the decade that people don’t know what to call. Is it the zeros?

People often like to label decades by “themes.” I’ve already heard some people call the past decade the “Selfish Decade.”

While there’s certainly plenty of negatives to toss about, I’d like to consider some positives. Remember, “Aslan is still on the move!”

Here are the first five of my top ten positive trends in biblical counseling over the past ten years (in reverse order, of course, to heighten anticipation!).

10. Synergy Is Energy

Instead of territory-protecting and camp-building, increasingly biblical counseling groups are choosing to work together and to learn from each other. For example, Jeremy Lelek and the Association of Biblical Counselors (ABC) are to be commended for hosting a symposium that brought together leaders from Faith Biblical Counseling Ministries (FBCM), the Christian Counseling and Educational Foundation (CCEF), the Biblical Counseling and Spiritual Formation Network (BCSFN), and the Society for Christian Psychology (SCP).

9. Positive Perspective

For too long, modern biblical counseling suffered under the stereotype of what it was against. Over the past decade a shift has taken place as we’ve focused more on what we’re for. For example, the BCSFN, which was launched this decade, included “being a positive voice for biblical counseling” in its vision statement. The SCP purposes to develop from the Scriptures and Church history a positive presentation of a psychology (understanding of the soul as designed by God) that is thoroughly Christian.

8. New Gen Leadership

We all ought to be grateful for the “founders” of the “modern” biblical counseling movement. I’m also grateful for a new generation of leaders in biblical counseling. Examples abound. I think of Pastor Rob Green at Faith Biblical Counseling Ministries and Faith Seminary, of Chris Boucher at Capital Bible Seminary, Brad Hambrick of Crossroads Counseling, and Garrett Higbee of Twelve Stones Ministries.

7. Local Church Equipping

There’s a growing movement to return biblical counseling and spiritual friendship to its rightful place—the local church. Pastors are being equipped to equip their people for one another ministry. Among many examples are the CCEF, the BCSFN, FBCM, the ABC, Rick Thomas of The Counseling Solutions Group, and my own RPM Ministries all have well-developed local church equipping models, conferences, seminars, and consulting ministries. And individual churches are increasingly becoming equipping centers, such as Faith Baptist under the leadership of Pastor Steve Viars, Harvest Bible Chapel under the leadership of Pastor James MacDonald and Dr. Garrett Higbee, and New Antioch Baptist Church’s “LEAD” ministry under the direction of Sister Ellen Barney (where she has trained over 500 women in spiritual friendship). These equipping ministries and churches understand that biblical counseling is a normal part of the one another ministry that God calls every believer to participate in.

6. Compassionate Care

There was a time when “modern biblical counseling” was stereotyped as “harsh confrontation.” Joyfully, that label is dissipating as biblical counselors embrace a biblical sufferology. Biblical counseling is addressing how to provide soul care through sustaining and healing for suffering. It is also addressing how to provide gentle, humble spiritual direction for sin and sanctification through reconciling and guiding. Paul Tautges’ Comfort Those Who Grieve is one excellent example of biblical counseling for suffering. Ian Jones’ Counsel of Heaven on Earth is a great example of compassionate care for both suffering and sin. My own work, Spiritual Friends equips readers with twenty-two biblical counseling relational competencies for helping those who are suffering and sinning to move toward growth in grace.

The Rest of the Story

Be sure to join us for Part II when I share top trends 5-1 related to biblical counseling from 2000-2009.

Join the Conversation

What top trends would you add to this list?

What individuals, groups, churches, and books would you add to trends 10-6?

The Anatomy of Anxiety

Part 23: Christ’s Peace Plan

Note: For previous posts in this blog mini-series, visit: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, and 22.

Life Focus: Does worry, doubt, or fear get the best of you sometimes? Do you wonder where anxiety comes from and how to defeat it in your life and the lives of those you love? Then we need a biblical anatomy of anxiety. We need God’s prescription for victory over anxiety.

Five Peace-Producing Principles

In one verse (Philippians 4:6), in the context of one chapter, in the context of one book, in the context of the Gospel, Paul has taught us five peace-producing principles:

1. Guard My Relationship to God My Guard

2. Engage in Worship Prayer Focused on God’s Character

3. Open My Palms to God

4. See God As a Rewarder, Not a Hoarder

5. Faithfully Trust My Faithful Father

But just what is the nature of this peace?

“And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 4:7).

Three False Peace Plans

1. God’s Peace Is Not Irrational

Peace doesn’t ignore the reality of the situation around us. It’s not Pollyanna Christianity pretending life is wonderful. It’s not living in denial of problems, suffering, troubles, and stresses.

2. God’s Peace Is Not Circumstantial

There’s no promise that the anxiety-prompting events will magically disappear. In fact, Jesus makes the opposite promise. “In me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world” (John 16:33).

3. God’s Peace Is Not Predominantly Emotional

We don’t eliminate emotions. We manage emotions. We bring spirituality and rationality to our emotionality.

Recall our “anatomy of anxiety.” Emotions are God-given. The core emotion underlying negative anxiety is our God-given emotional gift of vigilance—an emotional response to threat.

An external threat prompts an internal reaction. We can respond in an ungodly way: stuck vigilance leading to self-trust, self-protection, and fight or flight behavior. We can respond in a godly way: wise vigil based upon faith in God and protection of others.

Christ’s Peace Plan: Core Rest Despite External Stress and Internal Distress

1. Christ’s Peace Is Rational: Reason Redeemed by Faith

Paul says God’s peace transcends all understanding. It’s not irrational. It’s super-rational. It’s reason redeemed by faith!

Peace brings rationality and spirituality to our emotionality. Our vigil detector screams, “Incoming missile! Take cover!” Or, if you’re a Star Trek fan, “Red alert! Red alert! Shields up! Evasive maneuvers!”

Our emotions scream, “Take control! Trust self! Protect self!”

However, our rational spirituality says, “Shh. Quiet. Calm down. Look at this real threat with spiritual eyes. What has God promised in Christ? He has overcome the world. He has won the fight, so you don’t have to fight in self-trust. He has won the final victory, so you don’t have to flee in self-protection.”

That’s why Paul says God’s peace guards our hearts and minds. “Heart” in the Bible is a comprehensive term with a focus on our rational, volitional, moral control center. “Mind” is thoughts, mental reflections, images, and beliefs.

God’s peace helps us to reinterpret life based upon God’s perspective. God’s peace helps us to see life through the lens of God’s promises based upon God’s character.

2. Christ’s Peace Is Supernatural: Whole, Healthy, and Holy in Christ

“Peace” means wholeness, unity, integration, rest. When we’re anxious, we feel the opposite. We say, “I’m coming unglued. I’m falling apart. My life is disintegrating!” Or, if we’re a Star Trek fan, “The shields are breakin’ up Capt’n Kirk. I can’t hold ‘em together much longer like this!”

God’s shalom is core rest despite external stress and internal distress.

Core rest: I am supernaturally at rest—whole, healthy, and holy. External stress: Even when real threats attack me. Internal Stress: Even when my emotional sentinel is clanging “Red alert!”

It’s supernatural because it is God’s guarding peace. Paul says God’s peace shall guard—garrison. God’s peace is the sentinel that mounts a guard over our hearts and minds. God’s powerful sentry of peace garrisons my heart and guards my mind—protecting my thought life. God’s peace stays on sentry duty continuously, without interruption, so I can relax my stuck vigilance. I can rest.

Peace is supernatural because it is in Christ. “It will guard your hearts and minds in Christ.”

In Christ, God demonstrates once and for all that nothing can separate us from our Sentinel. We have the peace of God because we have the promise in Christ of peace with God.

Since my ultimate fear of separation from the God of the universe is calmed in Christ, then I can face all other real, but smaller, fears through Christ who promises that He is my Sentinel who has overcome all the world’s threats.

Making It Real

1. Am I looking at life threats with spiritual eyes? Am I looking at life’s stresses through the lens of God’s protective promises based upon God’s faithful character?

2. Am I experiencing core rest despite external stress and internal distress? Is my daily peace based upon my understanding of my eternal peace with God in Christ?

The Rest of the Story

We’ve been looking at the foundation of peace—spiritual peace. There’s still more. In the coming days we’ll ask, “What additional biblical principles can we apply to our lives to find God’s peace?”

My Top Ten Books of 2009

Listed below are the ten books I most benefited from reading during 2009. They were not necessarily published in 09. I’m not giving a blanket endorsement of everything in the books.

Here, in descending order, are my top ten picks for 09.

# 10. Going Rogue, Sarah Palin (HarperCollins)

Well-written, fast-paced, but a huge missing element… See my full review here.

# 9. Seeing with New Eyes, David Powlison (P&R)

A solid biblical theology of biblical counseling. See my full review here.

# 8. The Counsel of Heaven on Earth, Ian Jones (Broadman & Holman)

An excellent biblical foundation for biblical counseling. See my full review here.

# 7. Glory Road, by Anthony J. Carter (Crossway Books)

Tells the remarkable stories of ten African Americans who have journeyed to the Reformed faith. See my full review here.

# 6. Competent to Counsel?, David Powlison (CCEF)

This is not the book by Jay Adams, but rather David Powlison’s fascinating book (to be released in 2010) on the history of modern biblical counseling. See my full review here.

# 5. Foundations for Soul Care, Eric Johnson (IVP Academic)

A monumental text for Christian psychology. See my full review here.

# 4. Big Truths for Young Hearts, Bruce Ware (Crossway Books)

Excellent primer on how to teach theology to kids. See my full review here.

# 3. Raised with Christ, Adrian Warnock (Crossway Books)

To be released in January 2010, profound application of the resurrection to our daily lives. See my full review here in January, 2010.

# 2. Who’s Afraid of the Holy Spirit?, Dan Wallace (Biblical Studies Press)

An Evangelical, non-charismatic application of the Holy Spirit to our lives. See my full review here.

# 1. Counsel from the Cross, Elyse Fitzpatrick, Dennis Johnson (Crossway Books)

The best book of 2009 for those who want to apply biblical counseling and Christian living principles to their lives and ministries. See my full review here.   

Counsel from the Cross

Conversations on the Future of Biblical Counseling

Part 4: What Makes Biblical Counseling Truly Biblical?

Note: Welcome to our blog mini-series on The Future of Biblical Counseling. I’m sharing my expanded version of an interview Brad Hambrick (BCH) of the ABC did with me. Read earlier posts: post 1, post 2, post 3.

Dreaming a Dozen Dreams

Brad and I will soon begin to dialogue about each of my twelve dreams for the future of biblical counseling. Before we dialogue, I want you to have the big picture of those dozen dreams. I trust that you will be edified by my original article. But more than that, I hope you will read it as a good “Berean” by using God’s Word to evaluate my views. Today I share the first ¼ of that original article.

The Future of Biblical Counseling: Dreaming a Dozen Dreams

Introduction: What Makes Biblical Counseling Truly Biblical?

As I speak around the country on biblical counseling and spiritual formation, I’m frequently asked the question. “When you say ‘biblical counseling,’ you don’t mean ___________ do you?”

Various people fill in that blank with different labels—all negative to them. What a shame that placing the word “biblical” in front of “counseling” causes so many in the church to recoil in fear. Something has gone terribly wrong.

But there’s good news—the tide is turning. Warped caricatures of biblical counseling are being replaced by scripturally and historically accurate portraits of counseling that are truly biblical—and attractive (Titus 2:10). While no one can provide the final, authoritative definition of biblical counseling, I offer for your consideration this summary understanding.

Christ-centered, comprehensive, compassionate, and culturally-informed biblical counseling depends upon the Holy Spirit to relate God’s inspired truth about people, problems, and solutions to human suffering (through the Christian soul care arts of sustaining and healing) and sin (through the Christian spiritual direction arts of reconciling and guiding) to empower people to exalt and enjoy God and to love others (Matthew 22:35-40) by cultivating conformity to Christ and communion with Christ and the Body of Christ.

Given this working definition, envision with me the nature and shape of the future of biblical counseling—twelve dreams of one possible future for biblical counseling as practiced by lay spiritual friends, pastors, and professional Christian counselors.

Dream Number One: Biblical Counseling Will Be Scriptural

Biblical counseling will cling tenaciously to the supremacy, sufficiency, and profundity (depth of wisdom) of the Scriptures. God has provided us with all that we need for godly living (2 Peter 1:3). The Scriptures, rightly interpreted and carefully applied, offer us all-encompassing insight for life.

The Bible provides us with the interpretive categories for making sense of life experiences from God’s perspective. By building our counseling models on Christ’s gospel of grace, we obtain wisdom for bringing people healing hope, the stimulus for change (God’s glory), and the understanding of human motivation that energizes these God-honoring changes.

Dream Number Two: Biblical Counseling Will Be Theological

Too often, current models of biblical counseling start and end at the Fall—focusing almost exclusively on human depravity. As a result, they often counsel Christians as if they are still unsaved—apart from the justifying, redeeming, regenerating, and reconciling work of Christ.

Biblical counseling will unite Creation, Fall, and Redemption. In studying a biblical theology of Creation, biblical counseling will examine people—God’s original design for the soul (anthropology).

In probing the Fall, biblical counseling will examine problems—how sin brought personal depravity and suffering (hamartiology).

In investigating the Bible’s teaching on Redemption, biblical counseling will examine solutions—the gospel of Christ’s grace which offers eternal salvation and provides us with daily victory in our ongoing battle against the world, the flesh, and the devil (soteriology).

Creation, Fall, and Redemption also have psychological correlates. Creation is biblical psychology—the biblical study of the soul. The Fall is biblical psychopathology—the biblical study of the sickness of sin. Redemption is biblical psychotherapy—the biblical study of God’s healing of the soul through Christ.

In the minds of some, the use of these psychological terms is invalid. How sad that we have allowed the world to steal these solidly biblical/theological/historical terms. It is time that we took back our heritage and redefined these terms. Franz Delitzsch, writing in 1861 (before the advent of modern secular psychology), noted that “biblical psychology is no science of yesterday. It is one of the oldest sciences of the church.”

Psychology is native to our faith. Not secular psychology, but biblical psychology—understanding and ministering to the soul designed by God, disordered by sin, and redeemed by grace.

Extending the Conversation

1. When you hear the phrase “biblical counseling” what comes to mine? Is your initial reaction positive or negative? Why?

2. In 75 words or less, how would you define “biblical counseling”?

3. How would your definition of “biblical counseling” differ from mine? What about my definition surprises you?

4. How would you define the sufficiency of Scripture?

5. Why do you think many current models of “biblical counseling” focus on depravity and the fall, and tend to minimize creation and redemption?

6. Are you surprised at all by the quote, “biblical psychology is no science of yesterday. It is one of the oldest sciences of the church.”

The Rest of the Story

I invite you to return for our next post as I share dreams three, four, five, and six for the future of biblical counseling that’s truly biblical.

Conversations on the Future of Biblical Counseling

Part 3: Who Is Competent to Counsel?

Note: Welcome to our blog mini-series on The Future of Biblical Counseling. I’m sharing my expanded version of an interview Brad Hambrick (BCH) of the ABC did with me. Read earlier posts: post 1 , post 2.

BCH: Who do you mean when you say biblical counseling—not name or organization, but target audience? How broadly or narrowly are you using that term?

Are these (a) dreams for self-identified counselors who believe their counseling is biblical; (b) dreams for the entire Church because of the “one another” commands of New Testament given to all Christians; or (c) dreams for those who hold to a certain set of convictions regarding counseling?”

RWK: As I penned my definition of biblical counseling, and as I dream about the future of biblical counseling, my target audience includes several groups. Dream eleven, which we will discuss in more detail later, states that biblical counseling is universal—it is what lay people do as spiritual friends, what pastors do as soul physicians, and what professional Christian/biblical counselors do as soul care-givers, and what educators do as equippers.

I base this expansive dream upon Paul’s conviction in Romans 15:14. “I myself am convinced that you yourselves are full of goodness, complete in knowledge, and competent to counsel one another.”

Lay People as Spiritual Friends

First, I dream about the future of biblical counseling for lay believers. My passion is the local church. The holy of holies of my local church passion is the equipping of the saints to do the work of the ministry.

I tell my graduate students that the M in MA stands for Master which means you master something so well that you equip others to do it also. My greatest joy is to see our graduate students equip their people for lay discipleship (which is what biblical counseling is—discipleship).

For instance, Sister Ellen Barney is the “First Lady” (pastor’s wife) in a large African American church in Maryland. In the past seven years she has equipped over 500 women as Lay Encouragers And Disciplers (LEADers). When I speak at their elaborate graduation ceremonies, she says, “Dr. Kellemen, these are your grandbabies!”

I dream of grandbabies and great-grandbabies in every local church. Each of the twelve dreams are dreams I have for lay spiritual friends—that their ministries would be scriptural, theological, historical, positive, relational, relevant, transformative, comprehensive in theory, comprehensive in methodology, comprehensive in equipping, universal, and multi-cultural.

Pastors as Soul Physicians

Second, I write and dream for pastors as soul physicians. Having pastored most of my adult life, and ministering to pastors for the rest of my adult life, I have a heart for pastors.

I absolutely believe in the pulpit ministry of the Word. I believe most Evangelical seminaries train pastors well for the pulpit. I happen also to believe in the personal ministry of the Word. Unfortunately, I think most Evangelical seminaries drop the ball in training pastors as soul physicians. If they train them at all, it is one course and that one course often is more psychological than it is theological/biblical.

I dream of the day when pastors are not only equipped to counsel biblically, but they are equipped to equip others. The church, as my friend Pastor Steve Viars points out, should not simply have biblical counseling, it should be a church that is a biblical counseling discipleship ministry. The sufficiency and relevancy of Scripture and the art of helping people to grow in grace (progressive sanctification) should be central to what every pastor equips his church to be.

Professional Christian Counselors as Soul Care-Givers and Spiritual Directors

Third, I write and dream for professional Christian counselors as soul care-givers and spiritual directors. These are dear people, committed people, godly men and women. Some of them will tell you that they have more training in secular psychology than they do in biblical counseling.

But frankly, even when we have a seminary-level knowledge of the Bible, we need equipping to learn how to relate the Biblical text to people’s lives. While I was at seminary, I worked for four years on a psychiatric inpatient unit. I worked hard to relate God’s truth to human relationships in a way that made a lasting difference. My passion is to help professional Christian counselors to use Christ’s changeless truth (Scripture) to change lives (soul) in our changing times (society) through a comprehensive approach to biblical counseling and spiritual formation.

Professors, Educators, and Students as Equippers

Fourth, I write and dream for professors, educators, and equippers. We need to equip the equippers who equip others also.

I pray and dream that as professors equip men and women for biblical counseling that they are equipping lay, pastoral, and professional counselors for biblical counseling that is Christ-centered, comprehensive, compassionate, and culturally-informed. The equipping of the next generation starts with this generation’s educators.

Extending the Conversation

1. Who do you think God calls to be biblical counselors? Who is competent to counsel?

2. What different roles might be best suited for lay people, pastors, professional Christian counselors, and educators?

3. Do you agree or disagree that every person can become competent to counsel?

The Rest of the Story

So what does make biblical counseling truly biblical? I invite you to return for our next post as I begin to outline my answer to that by sharing my twelve dreams for the future of biblical counseling.

Conversations on the Future of Biblical Counseling

Part 2: What Makes Biblical Counseling Biblical?

Note: We’re in the midst of a blog mini-series on The Future of Biblical Counseling. Brad Hambrick (BCH) of the Association of Biblical Counselors (ABC) interviewed me about this vital topic. I’m sharing my updated, expanded version of those conversations. Find post one here.  

BCH: It’s hard to even engage a conversation until we have defined our central term. In your original article, even before you started sharing your twelve dreams, you defined “biblical counseling.”

RWK: I agree completely Brad. Here’s how I began that initial article.

What Does Biblical Counseling Mean to You?

As I speak around the country on biblical counseling and spiritual formation, I’m frequently asked the question. “When you say ‘biblical counseling,’ you don’t mean ___________ do you?” Various people fill in that blank with different labels—all negative to them. What a shame that placing the word “biblical” in front of “counseling” causes so many in the church to recoil in fear. Something has gone terribly wrong.

But there’s good news—the tide is turning. Warped caricatures of biblical counseling are being replaced by scripturally and historically accurate portraits of counseling that are truly biblical—and attractive (Titus 2:10). While no one can provide the final, authoritative definition of biblical counseling, I offer for your consideration this summary understanding.

My Definition of Biblical Counseling

Christ-centered, comprehensive, compassionate, and culturally-informed biblical counseling depends upon the Holy Spirit to relate God’s inspired truth about people, problems, and solutions to human suffering (through the Christian soul care arts of sustaining and healing) and sin (through the Christian spiritual direction arts of reconciling and guiding) to empower people to exalt and enjoy God and to love others (Matthew 22:35-40) by cultivating conformity to Christ and communion with Christ and the Body of Christ.

Given this working definition, envision with me the nature and shape of the future of biblical counseling—twelve dreams of one possible future for biblical counseling as practiced by lay spiritual friends, pastors, and professional Christian counselors.

Twelve Dreams for the Future of Biblical Counseling

I then unpacked those twelve dreams. Since our conversation will discuss them in detail, I’ll only outline them now.

1. Dream Number One: Biblical Counseling Will Be Scriptural

2. Dream Number Two: Biblical Counseling Will Be Theological

3. Dream Number Three: Biblical Counseling Will Be Historical

4. Dream Number Four: Biblical Counseling Will Be Positive

5. Dream Number Five: Biblical Counseling Will Be Relational

6. Dream Number Six: Biblical Counseling Will Be Relevant

7. Dream Number Seven: Biblical Counseling Will Be Transformative

8. Dream Number Eight: Biblical Counseling Will Be Comprehensive in Theory

9. Dream Number Nine: Biblical Counseling Will Be Comprehensive in Methodology

10. Dream Number Ten: Biblical Counseling Will Be Comprehensive in Equipping

11. Dream Number Eleven: Biblical Counseling Will Be Universal

12. Dream Number Twelve: Biblical Counseling Will Be Culturally-Informed

Extending the Conversation

1. How would you define biblical counseling?

2. How would your definition of biblical counseling be different from mine?

3. If you were to outline a dozen dreams for the future of biblical counseling, what might some of them be?

The Rest of the Story

I invite you to return tomorrow as we discuss “who” biblical counseling is “for”? Is it just what pastors do? Professionals? Is it what lay people do in one another spiritual friendship?

The Anatomy of Anxiety, Part 17: How to Put Off Anxiety

Note: For previous posts in this blog mini-series, please visit: 1: http://bit.ly/aHstk, 2: http://bit.ly/20R01P, 3: http://bit.ly/HAoxI, 4: http://bit.ly/1I6XmF, 5: http://bit.ly/19Jdqt, 6: http://bit.ly/19vCXx, 7: http://bit.ly/21wPLg, 8: http://bit.ly/m50On, 9: http://bit.ly/4vhNIt, 10: http://bit.ly/1ClPr4, 11: http://bit.ly/2Sb2Ec, 12: http://bit.ly/2xv4BV, 13: http://bit.ly/baNuS, 14: http://bit.ly/UFIy1, 15: http://bit.ly/31fQYo, 16: http://bit.ly/3mmTm4

Does worry, doubt, or fear get the best of you sometimes? Do you wonder where anxiety comes from and how to defeat it in your life and the lives of those you love? Then we need a biblical anatomy of anxiety. And, we need God’s prescription for victory over anxiety.

Putting Off and Putting On

In our last post (http://bit.ly/3mmTm4), I discussed the “touchy” issue of exposing and dealing with sin issues involved in anxiety.

The Bible never talks about putting off sin without also instructing us how to put on holy, loving living.

Putting off heart sins of self-trust associated with anxiety, we need to put on trusting Christ as our Sentry.

Putting off relational sins of self-protection associated with anxiety, we need to put on tending and befriending—protecting others.

Motivations to Trust and Love

To be motivated to put off, we need to see the horrors of our sin—even in anxiety issues. Consider the three areas of our relationship to God (spiritual), others (social), and self (self-aware).

Self-protective anxiety is horrible spiritually because it reveals that we fear something more than we fear God. It means that we entrust ourselves to something more than we entrust ourselves to God.

Self-protective anxiety is horrible socially because it reveals that we tend and befriend ourselves rather than or more than we tend and befriend others. Even seemingly altruistic endeavors like public speaking may be fraught with selfishness if we speak as fearful people pleasers trying to impress others or fearful of what others think of us.

Self-protective anxiety is horrible in terms of our self-awareness because we believe lies about ourselves. We live the lie that we are slaves to fear and that we are babies, rather than living the truth that we are slaves to righteousness and that we are adult sons and daughters of God in Christ. We focus on self-esteem when we should be focused on Christ-esteem: Who Christ is and who we are in Christ.

“But It Can’t Be Sin!”

In the midst of anxiety, we may argue:

“But it can’t be sin! I would not have these feelings if I could get rid of them. They’re uninvited. Unwanted. Alien. Intruders. Invaders. I have no choice but to feel these fears!”

At one level, this may be somewhat true. We can’t totally control what feelings we experience. Plus, it is true that mentally and physically we can begin to habituate ourselves to these feelings.

However, at another, deeper level, it (anxiety) can be sin; can be a choice. We can control our spiritual, social, mental, volitional, and behavioral response to our feelings of anxiety.

So why would we choose to stay stuck in anxious patterns?

“Secondary Gain”

To understand that, we need to understand “secondary gain.”

What do I get out of staying fearful? What responsibilities and callings do I avoid? What pampering do I receive?

I may or may not be able to control the physical reaction or the immediate emotional response when anxiety strikes. But I can control my relational, mental, motivational, and behavioral responses. When I don’t, I need to ask myself:

“What am I getting out of staying stuck in my pattern of anxiety? What does it buy me? What does it protect me from?”

The Rest of the Story

So just how do we put off the sins of self-trust, self-protection, and self-esteem? How do we put on trusting Christ as our Sentry, tending and befriending others, and living out our new identity in Christ?

In the rest of our blog series, we’ll explore specific biblical guiding principles that answer these vital questions. We’ll use the following categories to find victory over anxiety:

1. Relational: Spiritual, Social, Self-Aware—How to Love Sacrificially

2. Rational: Beliefs and Images—How to Think Biblically

3. Volitional: Motivation and Behavior—How to Choose Courageously

4. Emotional: Reactions and Responses—How to Manage Our Moods

Stay tuned and continue to join the journey.

RPM Ministries’ First-Ever Webinar!

One of life’s 7 ultimate questions is, “How can I help? Do I have a purpose and how do I fulfill it?” I want to help you to answer these questions…for free.

I’m excited to announce that I’m able to offer you something very valuable for the low price of…$0.00!

You’ve heard me talk about my How to Care Like Christ seminars.

Now, for the first time, I’m presenting part of that seminar as a webinar. From the comfort of your home and the privacy of your computer screen, you’ll be able to hear my presentation while viewing the entire PowerPoint presentation.

But That’s Not All!

But that’s not all. I’m working in partnership with three other nationally-known biblical counselors. Their three webinar sessions also cost…$0.00!

Over the course of two weeks, we’ll offer four interactive sessions that each last an hour. Topics include:

 1. How to Identify the Ruling Idols of Your Heart (Rick Thomas, December 1, 2009, 7-8 PM EST)

2. How to Help People to Overcome Addiction to Pornography (Luke Gilkerson, December 3, 2009, 7-8 PM EST)

3. How to Care Like Christ (Bob Kellemen, December 8, 2009, 7-8 PM EST)

4. How to Revise Conflict and Revive Romance in Marriage (Brad Hambrick, December 10, 2009, 7-8 PM EST)

All sessions will include practical advice, examples, and a Q/A time.

What You’ll Learn to Do in My Webinar

Everyone wants to do biblical counseling and to be a spiritual friend, but what does it actually look like in practice? In my webinar you’’ll be equipped to:

1. Use God’s Word to bring Christ’s hope to people’s suffering.

2. Offer sustaining care for discouraged people by weeping with those who weep—learn how to empathize with people’s hurts.

3. Bring healing comfort for suffering people by exploring Christ’s hope in the midst of people’s grief—learn how to encourage people with Christ’s truth.

The Details

The date/time for my webinar is December 8, 2009, 7-8 PM EST.

For more details and to register for any or all of the four webinar sessions,  click here.

This invitation is being sent to over 200,000 (not exaggerating) people, and we only have room for the first 1,000 people for each webinar. So registering quickly is a good idea.

Be equipped to care like Christ.

The Anatomy of Anxiety, Part 15: Five Battle Plans in Your Victory Over Anxiety

Note: For previous posts in this blog mini-series, please visit: 1: http://bit.ly/aHstk, 2: http://bit.ly/20R01P, 3: http://bit.ly/HAoxI, 4: http://bit.ly/1I6XmF, 5: http://bit.ly/19Jdqt, 6: http://bit.ly/19vCXx, 7: http://bit.ly/21wPLg, 8: http://bit.ly/m50On, 9: http://bit.ly/4vhNIt, 10: http://bit.ly/1ClPr4, 11: http://bit.ly/2Sb2Ec, 12: http://bit.ly/2xv4BV, 13: http://bit.ly/baNuS, 14: http://bit.ly/UFIy1

Does worry, doubt, or fear get the best of you sometimes? Do you wonder where anxiety comes from and how to defeat it in your life and the lives of those you love? Then we need a biblical anatomy of anxiety. And, we need God’s prescription for victory over anxiety.

Biblical Battle Plans

There are no “secret steps” to “quick cures” of anxiety. However, there are practical biblical principles. There are “battle plans” such as:

Battle Plan # 1: Scout Out the “Flip Side” of Anxiety

Feelings of fear ought to be a warning sign to trust God and to take action to protect others. Rather than being terrified of fear, rather than turning to a flight or fight response, in the midst of fearful circumstances turn to a bold choice to trust and protect.

Battle Plan # 2: Recognize Your Strengths that Are Masked by Stuck Anxiety

If you’re struggling with anxiety, it’s not uncommon that you may also be a sensitive person, intuitive, intelligent, analytical, imaginative, creative, a pursuer of excellence. Yes, when these traits get “stuck” in the extreme position, they are … well … maddening. However, when corralled by Christ and for others, they become powerful weapons in kingdom warfare. For example, use your sensitivity to sense danger and then move into tend and befriend behavior, rather then settling in a flinch and fear mood state.

Battle Plan # 3: Learn to Soothe Your Soul in Your Savior

I’m convinced that one of the reasons God designed us with emotions is so that we can be driven to recognize our desperate desire and continuously need for God. Like the Psalmists, learn to lament, to cry out, to beg, to confess…not just sin, but neediness…desperate need for God’s rescue.

Battle Plan # 4: See Christ as Your Sentry

Explore, apply, memorize, meditate upon, paraphrase, and personalize passages about trust, about Christ as your Sentry/Rock/Guard/Protector, such as Psalm 34, Psalm 77, Philippians 4, and 1 Peter 5. Renew your image of Who Christ is.

Battle Plan # 5: See Yourself As Christ’s Sentry

Victory over anxiety requires that we renew our image of Who Christ is and that we renew our image of who we are in Christ. In Christ, we are sentries, guards, and protectors. We are warriors not worriers. Guard the garden. Have dominion over the earth—including over your own emotions. Defend others. Courageously sacrifice even when you are scared to death. You are Christ’s sentry because Christ is your Sentry.

The Rest of the Story

What possible role does sin have in issues of anxiety? I know, it’s an uncomfortable place to go, especially after today’s stirring, encouraging biblical principles. However, we’d dishonor God, dismiss His Word, and diminish our victory over anxiety if we ignored those times and those areas when and where sin becomes entangled with anxiety. In coming posts, we gently speak the truth in love about anxiety. Join us.